Telephone console panel interlocking device

ABSTRACT

An attendant console for a telephone system having two inclined planar surfaces intersecting each other wherein, for retention purposes, the upper end of the lower surface is positioned in a slot cut into the upper surface. Pressure, sufficient to maintain the surfaces in interlocking position, is applied to each surface individually by a spring device mounted to the console housing.

United States Patent 72 Inventors Robert E. Bears:

[54] TELEPHONE CONSOLE PANEL INTERLOCKING DEVICE 6Claims,5Drawing Figs. 52 use: 312/283, 312/140 51 lnt.Cl ..A47b81/00 LOWER 23 RETAINING LEDGE Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorneys-R. J. Guenther and James Warren Falk ABSTRACT: An attendant console for a telephone system having two inclined planar surfaces intersecting each other wherein, for retention purposes, the upper end of the lower surface is positioned in a slot cut into the upper surface. Pressure, sufficient to maintain the surfaces in interlocking position, is applied to each surface individually by a spring device mounted to the console housing.

UPPER 20 RETAINING LEDGE PAIENTEUum 12 Ian 3, 5 1 2 6 36 SHEET 1 [IF 2 R. E. BEARSE MEMO R. HOLLER/TH ATTORNEY PATENTEUDCT 12 I97! 3,512,53

, sum 2 OF 2 FIG. 4 22 I LOWER EDGE LOWER PANEL UPPER EDGE ]\2| FIG. 5 SLOT 5|1 IIZ X I 2s UPPER PANEL UPPER EDGE LOWER EDGE TELEPHONE CONSOLE PANEL INTERLOCKING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an attendant console and more particularly to an arrangement for retaining the console faccplates in interlocking position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART On telephone consoles, operational devices, such as keys, lamps and switches project through detachable front panel surfaces called faceplates. These faceplates are designed to provide the console attendant with an esthetically pleasing work area as well as with a work area that is functionally efficient. In keeping with this environmental design approach it is situation where the console contains a vertical panel as well as I a horizontal panel, the mounting problem is compounded in that two bezels, usually of different size, must be manipulated each time the operational devices are serviced.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a which are easily removable from the housing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a telephone console faceplate mounting arrangement for retaining intersecting faceplates without the use of visible mounting hardware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects are obtained in an embodiment of the invention wherein a telephone console having sloping intersecting faceplates is arranged with an elongated spring device having three load bearing surfaces. The spring is permanently mounted to the console by one of the bearing surfaces and is arranged to provide pressure individually to each of the faceplate panels such that when one edge of the lower panel is placed in a slot cut into the surface of the upper panel, the panels will remain interlocked with each other. Hand .pressure on the upper panel surface is sufficient'to release both panels.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, a spring device is arranged in a telephone console to exert pressure individually on each of two intersecting panels so as to maintain the panels in interlocking relationship with each other and with the console.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, a telephone console is arranged with two, inclined planar surfaces intersecting each other, wherein, for retention purposes, the upper edge of the lower surface is positioned in a slot cut into the upper surface and maintained ininterlocking position by pressure applied to each surface individually by a spring device mounted to the console housing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The foregoing objects, features and advantages, as well as others of the invention will be more apparent from the following description of the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a telephone consolehaving two intersecting planar surfaces;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same telephone console partially cut away to illustrate an upper panel interlocked by a lower panel and held in fixed relationship by an elongated'spring;

FIG. 3 is an expanded elevational view of the spring and panel interlocking assembly;

FIG. 4 is a side edge view of the lower panel; and

telephone console housing having intersecting faceplates FIG. 5 is a side edge view of the upper panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, the present invention is illustrated in a telephone console housing 10 having a lower inclined planar panel 11 and an upper inclined planar panel 12 which panels are maintained in interlocking position with each other and with console housing 10 by an elongated spring 13. Spring 13 is arranged with three load bearing surfaces one of which is permanently attached to console housing 10 by rod 14 while the other load bearing surfaces are pressure coupled individually to the lower and upper panel surfacesso as to maintain the panels in interlocked position with each other as well as with console housing, 10 without the use of additional fasteners.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the lower panel 11 is arranged with a beveled lower edge 22 and a beveled upper edge 21. The exact angle of the bevels, as will become more apparent from that which is contained hereinafter, is dependent upon the slope of the lower panel when mounted on housing 10, and in situations where thepanel is'mounted in a substantial horizontal plane, the bevel angle may be reduced to zero.

Tuming to FIG. 5 it will be seen that the upper panel 12 contains a notched upper end 25 which end is also beveled in accordance with the desired slope of the mounted panel. A slot 51 is cut into upper panel 12 as close to the lower edge 24 as possible, while still maintaining the panel structurally sound. Slot 51 is cut parallel to and in fixed relationship with lower edge 24 of upper panel 12. The slope of slot 51 is dependent upon the slope of the mounted upper panel 12 as well as upon the slope of the mounted lower panel I], and, as willbe more apparent from that which is contained hereinafter, is arranged to firmly receive upper edge 21 of lower panel II in interlocked relationship.

As detailed in FIG. 3, spring 13 is formed so as to contain three force bearing surfaces or elements 31, 32 and 33. When lower panel 1 l is placed in'the position shown in FIG. 3, spring force bearing surface 32 becomes pressure coupled. thereto so as to exert aforce in a generallyupward direction thereon. When upper panel l2'is placedin the position shown in FIG. 3, spring force bearing surface 33 becomes pressure coupled thereto so as to exert a force in a generally forward direction thereon.

Spring force bearing surface 31 is rigidly fixed to mounting bar 14 which'bar is in turn rigidly attached to console housing,

10 and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is positioned in console housing 10 in a plane parallel to both the upper and the lower panel openings and behind the openings. Accordingly, when the panels are in mounted position, the mounting assembly is invisible from the front. 1 Referring now to FIG. 2, force arrows F1, F2 and F3, illustrate the direction of the forces applied by the spring force bearing elements 31, 32 and 33-respectively. As shown, the primary forces applied by spring 13 are such that the top edge 21 of lower panel 11 tends to'be urged against the top edge of slot 51 in upper panel 12 while upper panel 12 is in turn urged in the direction of lower panel 11. When these primary forces are combined by the interaction of the intersecting panels one resultingforce is such that the lower edge 22 of lower panel 11 is urged against a lower retaining ledge 23 of console housing 10 which ledge forms an angle on intersection with the console housing conforming to the beveled lower edge 22 of lower panel 11 and designed to mate securely therewith. In addition, another resulting force is suchthat the top edge 25 of upper:

panel 12 is urged against an upper retaining edge 20 of con-Z.

sole housing 10 which ledge forms an angle of intersection with console housing 10 conforming to the notched beveled upper edge 25 of upper panel 12, and designed to mate via slot 51 against lowerpanel 11. Lower panel II restrained from movement at the lower edge 22 by pressure against lower restraining ledge 23 and at the upper edge 21 by pressure from upper panel 12 and slot 51. The panels may be released from such interlocked position by pressure on upper panel 12 in a direction to disengage lower panel 11 from slot 51.

Summarizing briefly, when lower panel 11 and upper panel 12 are positioned properly against spring 13 with the upper edge of panel 11 inserted in slot 51 in upper panel 12, spring elements 32 and 33 exert presure on each panel individually sufi'rcient to maintain the panels in interlocking position with each other and with console housing 10.

While the apparatus of this invention has been shown in a particular embodiment where the top edge of a lower console panel is inserted into a slot cut into an upper panel and held in a position by an elongated spring, it is to be understood that such an embodiment is intended only to be illustrative of the present invention and that numerous other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, the single slot of upper panel 12 could comprise a series of slots or holes which are engaged by a corresponding series of tabs protruding from the top edge of the lower surface. In addition, the single elongated spring could be replaced with a series of such springs mounted in spaced relationship to each other.

What is claimed is:

1. In a console housing having removable intersecting panels the combination comprising means in a first one of said panels for engaging a second one of said panels,

means in said housing for positioning said first and said second panels in engaged relationship, and

means cooperating jointly with said engaging means and with said positioning means for forcibly retaining said engaged panels in fixed relationship with each other and with said housing.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a spring having a first force bearing surface permanently attached to said housing and two other force bearing surfaces, each pressure coupled to one of said panels for applying pressure to each of said panels individually.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spring means is attached to said housing in a plane parallel to said first and to said second panels in a position rendering said spring invisible when said first and said second panels are in said retained position.

4. In combination a console housing;

a first and a second surface, each having an upper and a lower edge;

said second surface having a slot therein parallel to and in spaced relation with said lower edge of said second surface;

means for positioning said surfaces such that said upper edge of said first surface is engaged by said slot of said second surface; and

a spring having a first force bearing element rigidly affixed to said housing and two other force bearing elements, each pressure coupled to one of said surfaces for applying forces thereto individually so as to maintain said surfaces in said engaged position.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said positioning means includes a lower engaging ledge in said housing sloped to receive said lower edge of said first surface,

an upper engaging ledge in said housing sloped to receive said upper edge of said second surface,

said lower edge of said lower surface being contoured to fit securely in said sloped lower engaging ledge,

said upper edge of said upper surface being contoured to fit securely in said sloped upper engaging ledge, wherein said force applied to said second surface is transmitted through said slot to said first surface in a direction urging said contoured lower edge of said first surface into engaging relationship with said lower engaging ledge of said housing, and wherein said force applied to said first surface is transmitted through said slot to said second surface in a direction to urge said contoured upper edge of said second surface into engaging relationship with said upper engaging ledge of said housing. 6. A spring and panel retaining assembly for pressure coupling panels in fixed relationship with each other and with a telephone console housing comprising a support rigidly attached to said housing and at least one elongated spring having a first force bearing surface rigidly affixed to said support and two other force bearing surfaces each pressure coupled to retained ones of said panels for applying pressure to each of said retained panels individually so as to maintain said panels in said fixed relationship. 

1. In a console housing having removable intersecting panels the combination comprising means in a first one of said panels for engaging a second one of said panels, means in said housing for positioning said first and said second panels in engaged relationship, and means cooperating jointly with said engaging means and with said positioning means for forcibly retaining said engaged panels in fixed relationship with each other and with said housing.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a spring having a first force bearing surface permanently attached to said housing and two other force bearing surfaces, each pressure coupled to one of said panels for applying pressure to each of said panels individually.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spring means is attached to said housing in a plane parallel to said first and to said second panels in a position rendering said spring invisible when said first and said second panels are in said retained position.
 4. In combination a console housing; a first and a second surface, each having an upper and a lower edge; said second surface having a slot therein parallel to and in spaced relation with said lower edge of said second surface; means for positioning said surfaces such that said upper edge of said first surface is engaged by said slot of said second surface; and a spring having a first force bearing element rigidly affixed to said housing and two other force bearing elements, each pressure coupled to one of said surfaCes for applying forces thereto individually so as to maintain said surfaces in said engaged position.
 5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said positioning means includes a lower engaging ledge in said housing sloped to receive said lower edge of said first surface, an upper engaging ledge in said housing sloped to receive said upper edge of said second surface, said lower edge of said lower surface being contoured to fit securely in said sloped lower engaging ledge, said upper edge of said upper surface being contoured to fit securely in said sloped upper engaging ledge, wherein said force applied to said second surface is transmitted through said slot to said first surface in a direction urging said contoured lower edge of said first surface into engaging relationship with said lower engaging ledge of said housing, and wherein said force applied to said first surface is transmitted through said slot to said second surface in a direction to urge said contoured upper edge of said second surface into engaging relationship with said upper engaging ledge of said housing.
 6. A spring and panel retaining assembly for pressure coupling panels in fixed relationship with each other and with a telephone console housing comprising a support rigidly attached to said housing and at least one elongated spring having a first force bearing surface rigidly affixed to said support and two other force bearing surfaces each pressure coupled to retained ones of said panels for applying pressure to each of said retained panels individually so as to maintain said panels in said fixed relationship. 